Selector mechanism for addressing machines



Oct. 13,1925- 29 P. A. GOLLNICK ET AL SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed June 5. 1924 3 Sheetg-Sjhegt 1 .ELUGWTIS azwwa/A l/zao,

Ogt. 13,1925. 1,556,929

P. A. GOLLNICK ET AL SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed Juno 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. A. GOLLNICK ET AL SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed Juno 5. 1924 a Sheetg-Shqet 5 J \m g: 39 (1/ 39 46 a: rm H144 4 6/ 45 Patented Oct. 13,v

UNITED STATES v 1,556,929 PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL A. oonnnrcx am) JOBN J. room, or cmcaeo, rumors, Ass gnees 'ro srrmnn, nay, swarm 00., or cnrcaco, rumors, a coaroaa'rro v or more.

snnncroa uncnamsn roa annnnssme Application filed June s, 1924. Serial n. 113,087.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, PAUL A. GOLLNIGK and JOHN J. TOOLAN, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Selector Mechanisms for Addressing Machines, of which the following is a specification. a

This invention relates to addressing machines for making impressions from stenoils which are automatically driven through a predetermined path to a printing position adjacent a movable inking roller, and 1 more particularly to the selector mechanism for electrically controlling the operation of i such roller and of certain other parts'of the machine.

A selector mechanism of this general type is the subject of the co ending ap lication of Ray C. Anderson and Paul A. ollnick, Serial No. 686,767, filed January 17, 1924, wherein a plurality of selector pins are mounted in an oscillating frame so as to be adapted to project through apertures in certain of the stencils for closing an electric circuit while the stencils are moved in a ste -by-step movement through the machine.

he main objects of thisinvention are toprovide a selector mechanism adapted to control a plurality of electric circuits whereby any desired number of difli'erent selections may be made; to provide improved means for supporting) the selector pins to secure them against uckling during their plungin movement, and for accurately guiding sald pins into the apertures in the stencils; to provide a selector mechanism of this kind having an improved form and arrangement of electric contact elements whereby each of the selector pins is adapted to control either one or a pluralit of different circuits; to provide improve 'means for securin certain of the selector pins a ainst turning in the supporting frame; and to provide improved mechanism for positively driving said supporting frame in a plung ng move ment.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fi 1 is a fragmentary ,plan of an addressing machine showing the improved selector mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a detail in plan showing the se- .nection with t e machine.

8-8 of Fig. 1.

leclior guide plate and part of the guide ra1 s.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, partly broken away the view being taken on the line 33 of ig. 1.

Fi 4 and 5 are dia rams of electrical circuits controlled by t e improved selector mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a Ian of a stencil used in con- (ill Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of part of the operating mechanism.

, Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section of the selector mechanism, taken on the line Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the same taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

In the common type of selector mechanism heretofore in use, the guideways upon which the stencils traveled formed one oi the contact elements with which" the selector pins contacted to close the electrical circuit. These guideways frequently became smeared with ink fromthe stencils and, as a result thereof, the sparking at the con tacts would leave a deposit of carbon'on the guideways which interfered with the operation of the mechanism. In the specific construction herein illustrated the contact elements are located at the upper end of the selector frame where they are not fouled b ink or dust which accumulates on the tree or guideways. The fixed terminals of the multiple circuits are mounted onthe supporting frame, and the movable contact elements are carried on the upper ends of the selector pins. The terminals and contact elements are relatively arran ed so that the electrical circuits are norma 1y open. The a ertures in the stencils unit the selector pins to move downward a sufiicient' distance to close the respective circuit or cirzontal table 2, on which is-mounted a hopper 3, from which stencils 4 are automatically fed in a step-by-step movement along spaced guide rails 5 to printing mechanism 6, which is controlled by an improved selector mechanism 7. The selector mechanism is also arranged to control the operation of an audible signal 8, and a visible signal 9, as well as various other devices hereinafter described. Suitable feeding mechanism, not shown, is arranged adjacent the hopper 3 for moving the stencils in succession along the guide rails 5. The operations of the feeding and printing mechanisms are synchronized by suitable means, not shown.

The stencils 4 may be of the common form, comprising a thin membrane 10, wherein the characters are cut, and which is mounted in a rectangular card-board frame 11. Formed in the stencil frame 11, is one or more apertures 12, adapted to receive the selector pins. The position of the apertures 12 on the frame 11 determines the selection, as hereinafter described.

The printing mechanism 6 is substantially similar to that shown in the above mentioned copending application, and comprises a platen 13 pivotally secured to the frame 1 y a pin 14, and projecting through an opening 15in the table 2 for raising an envelope 16, or other matter to be printed, into ongagement with the stencil 4 to receive the impression. Located above the platen 13, is an inking roller 17, journaled in a bracket comprising a bell crank lever 18, which is pivotally secured to the frame 1 by a pin 19. The inking roller 17 normally engages a distributing roller 20, which is journaled in a bracket 21, mounted on the table 2. The distributing roller. 20 is supplied with ink by a fountain comprising a reservoir 22 and a small distributing roller 23. The distributing rollers 20 and 23 are adapted to be continuously driven by suitable means, not shown. The lower end of the lever 18 is connected by a link 24 to an operating lever 25, which is pivotally secured to the frame 1 by a pin 26, so that, upon the upward movement of the lever 25, the bell crank 18 is rocked to urge the inking roller 17 downwardly into engagement with the stencil 4. The upper end of the operating lever 25 coacts with the platen 13, so that the platen is raised and the inking roller 1.7 is lowered in unison.

Pivotally connected to the lower end of the operatlng lever 25, is a detent 27 which is adapted to connect the lever 25 with the operating mechanism. The operating mechanism comprises a'sector 28, pivotallysecured to the frame 1 by the pin 26 and connected to a motor, not shown, by meansof a crank 29, so that, during the operation of the machine, the sector 28 is continuously oscillated; Formed in the sector 28, is 'a notch 30 to receive the detent 27, whereby the lever 25 is oscillated for operating the adapted to move into and out of engagement v with the stencils 4 during the reciprocation of the carriage.

In the form shown, the frame 33 comprises a top plate 36 and a base plate 37, which are rigidly secured together in substantially parallel spaced relation by three upright posts 38. The top plate 36 includes a pair of side strips 39 and a central strip 40 arranged in substantially parallel relation, and a pair of end members 41 and 42.

Secured to the under side of each of the side strips 39, is an insulator bar 43, on which is mounted a longitudinally extending plate 44, forming the terminal of one of theelectric circuits, as shown in Fig. 4. The terminal plates 44 are secured to the insulator bars 43 by bolts 45, certain of which may be used as binding posts for electrical conductors 46 and 47, leading to an electromagnet 48 which controls the )rint-ing mechanism, as hereinafter descri ed. The terminal plates 44 project inwardly beyond the insulator bars 43 so as to be located in position to coact with contact elements carried by the selector pins when the pins reach the limit of their downward strokes, as hereinafter described. The frame 33 and carriage 34 are electrically grounded, as shown diagrammatically in Figs. 4 and 5.

Mountedon the central strip 40, is an insulator bar 49, on which is supported a plurality of electrical terminals 50, which extend downwardly to a point located in substantially the same horizontal plane as the terminal plates 44 so as to coact with certain of the contact elements carried by the selector ins 35. Any desired number of the terminals 50 maybe used, depending upon the number of different electrical circuits which it is desired to control. Connected to one of the terminals 50, is a conductor 51 leading to the audible signal 8, and connected to another of the terminals 50, is a conductor 52, leading to a visible rent 53 by conductors 54 and 55 respectively.

The base plate 37 of the frame 33 is rigidly secured to theguide rails 5 by suitable fastening means, such asbolts 56. Formed in the base plate 37, in vertical alinement with the pins 35, are apertures 57 which guide the selector pins 1n their vertical reciprocation and secure them against buckling.

The carriage 34 comprises an upper plate 58 and a lower plate 59, rigidly secured together in substantially parallel spaced relation by posts 60 and having bosses 61 which slidably engage the frame posts 38. Formed on the ends of the upper plate 58 are upstanding lugs 62, whlch are pivotally secured to an oscillating frame 63 by a stud 64 for supporting the carriage 34. Formed in the plates 58 and 59, are vertically alined apertures 65 and Y66 respectively, in which the selector pins 35 are slidably supported.

The selector pins 35 are reduced in size at their lower ends and are adapted to be projected downwardly through the base plate 37 into contact with the stencils 4 when the carriage 34 moves downwardly.

Upon the downward movement of the carriage 34, the aperture or apertures 12 in stencil 4 permit the registering pin or pins 35 to pass through the stencil so as to bring contact elements 67 and 68, carri d on the upper ends of the pins 35, into contact with the fixed terminals 44 and 50. The pins 35, which are not projected through the apertures 12 in the stencil, merely strike "the frame 11 of the stencil so that the contact elements on'these other pins are not lowered sufiiciently to contact with the fixed terminals 44 and 50.

The contact elements 67 are rigidly secured to the pins.35, and project downward- 1y therefrom so as to be adapted to engage the fixed terminal plates 44. The contact elements 68 are of a double character, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 8 so as to span the terminal plate 44, and also one of the terminals 50, thereby closing two circuits when the pin 35 is. projected through an aperture in the stencil. In order to compensate for possible difference in the positions of the terminals 44 and 50, the double contact elements 68 are pivotally secured to the pins 35 by studs 69, so that if one of the terminals is higher than the opposlte one the contact elements 68 will be shifted slightly so as to properly contact with both terminals. These se ector pins, which carry the double contact elements 68, are provided with bent studs 70, which slidably engage apertures 71 formed in the carriage plate 58, for securing the double contact elements against turning relative to the carr age 34 and thus securing them against accidental contact with adjacent contact elements. The selector pins 35 are normally urged inking ro downwardly relative to the carriage 34 by springs 72, which are connected at their lower ends'to the carriage plate 59 and at their upper ends to the pins 35.

The oscillatin frame 63 includes a pair of spaced arms 3 and 74, which are pivotally secured to a pin 75, mounted in a bracket .7 6, which is rigidly secured to the work table 2. The arm 73 is -in the form of a bell crank lever, having its lower part 77 provided with a roller 78, which rides in a cam groove 79 formed in the sector 28, whereby when the sector 28 is continuously oscillated during the operation of the machine, the frame 63 is oscillated to reciprocate the carriage 34 and selector pins 35.

The mechanism which controls the operation of the printing mechanism includes a lever 80, pivotally secured to the table 2 by a in 81, and being arranged to be actuated by the electromagnet 48 for lifting a latch 82 into positionto release the cam lever 32. One end of the lever 80 is arranged to coact with the solenoid 48, and the other end thereof is located below the latch 82 so that, when the circuit which controls the solenoid is closed, the latch 82 is raised to release the cam lever 32, thereby permitting the ,detent 27 to move into engagement with the notch 30 of the sector 28 under the action of the spring 31.

In operation, the stencils 4 are moved in a step-by-step movement along the guide rails 5 so as to be brought in succession to a position directly below the selector pins 35. As the carriage 34 and pins 35 are reciprocated continuously during the operation of the machine, the ins 35 are plunged downwardly through tli tion of the apertureor apertures 120n the stencil determines which of the selector pins is to be projected through the stencil, and therefore determines which of the circuits are to be closed. If the circuit which controls the rinting mechanism is closed, the

iler 17 and platen 13 will be actuated to make the impression on the envelope or other matter 16 at the time the particular stencil reaches its printing posit1on. The selector pins are removable from the carriage 34 so that only those ins which are necessary to control the desired operations need be placed in the carriage during each operation of the machine. If desired, several different hoppers, not'shown, may be located at the end of the guideway so that after the stencils have passed through the printing mechanism they may be assorted. Suitable means, not shown, may be used for automatically controlling the opening and closing of these hoppers, and such means could be operated by an electric circuit controlled by one of the pins 35 and terminals 50.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted Without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with an electric circuit, of a selector mechanism comprising a carriage, an axially movable pin on said carriage, a guideway for stencils arranged adjacent one end of said pin, a terminal in said circuit located in spaced relation to said guideway, and a contact element on the other end of said pin and adapted to be shifted into and out of contact with said terminal for controlling the circuit, said pin and terminal being located entirely on one side of said guideway. i

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with an electric circuit, of a selector mechanism comprising a carriage, a guidewa for stencils arranged adjacent the ower e ge of said carriage, a terminal in said circuit located adjacent the upper end of said carriage, an axially movable in arranged substantially vertically in said carriage, and a contact element on said pin adapted to be shifted into and out of contact with said terminal for controlling the circuit, said carriage, pin and terminal being located entirely on the same side of said guideway.

3. In a device of the classdescribed, the combination with a plurality of electric circuits, of a selector mechanism comprising a reciprocating carriage, a plurality of terminals in said circuits, an axially movable pin 'on said carriage, and a contact element mounted directly on said, pin and arranged to be shifted into and out of contact with said terminals for controlling said circuits.

4. In a deviceof the class described, the combination with a plurality of electric circuits, of a selector mechanism comprising a carriage, a guideway for stencils arranged adjacent the lower end of said carriage, a plurality of stationary terminals in said circuits, an axially movable pin arranged substantially vertically in said carriage, means for reciprocating said carriage and pin, and a contact element on said pin arranged to be shifted into and out of contact with said stationary terminals for controlling said circuits, said carriage and terminals being located on the same side of said guideway.

5 In a device of the class described, the combination with an electric circuit, of a selector mechanism comprising a supporting frame, a carriage slidably mounted on said frame, a terminal in said circuit and mounted on said frame, an axially movable pin on said carriage, and a contact element mounted directly on said pin and adapted to be shifted into and out of contact with said terminals for controlling said circuit.

6. In a device of the class described the ly movable pin carried by said carria e, and

a contact element on said pin adapte to be shifted into and out of contact with said terminal for controlling the circuit, said terminal and carriage being located entirely on the same side of said guideway.

7. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a plurality of electric cir cults, of a selector mechanism comprising a' substantially horizontal guideway, aframe mounted on said guideway, a pluralit of terminals in said circuits and mounte on said frame adjacent the upper end thereof, a vertically reciprocating carriage supported in said frame, an axially movablepm on said carriage, and a contact element carried by said pin and adapted to be shifted into and out of contact with said terminals for controlling said circuits, said carriage and terminals being located entirely above said guideway.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of electric circuits, of a selector mechanism comprising a carriage, an axially movable pin on said carriage, a pair of terminals in said circuits and arranged on opposite sides of said'p'in, a single contact element pivotally mounted on said pin and adapted to span both of said terminals for simultaneously closing said circuits, and means for reciprocating said pin so as to move said contact element into and out of contact with said terminals. 9. In a device-of the class described, the

combination with a pair of electric circuits,

cuits, and means for reciprocating said carriage and pin so as to move said contact element into and out of contact with said terminals.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of electric circuits, of a selector mechanism comprising a carriage, an axially movable pin on said carriage, means for securing said pin against turning relative to said carriage, a pair of terminals in said circuits and arranged on opposite sides of said pin, a single contact clement pivotally mounted on sald pin and adapted to span both of said terminals for simultaneously closing said circuits, and means for reciprocating said pin so as to move said contact element into and out of contact with said terminals.

11. In a device of the classdescribed, the combination with a pair of electric circuits, of a selector mechanism comprising a frame, a reciprocating carriage on said frame, an axially movable pin arranged substantially vertically in said carriage, coacting means on said carriage and pin arranged to secure said pin against turning relative to said frame, a pair of terminals in said circuits disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane on respectively opposite sides of said pin, a single contact element pivotally mounted on said pin and adapted to span both of said terminals for simultaneously closing said circuits, and means for reciprocating said carriage and pin so as to move said contact element into and out of contact with said terminals.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of electric circuits, of a selector mechanism comprising a carriage, an axially movable pin on saidcarriage, said carriage having an aperture formed therein adjacent said pin, a stud on said pin and slidably engaging said aperture for securing said pin against turning relative to said carriage, a pair of terminals in said circuits and arran ed on opposite sides of said pin, a sin e contact element pivotally mounted on said pin and adapted to span both of said terminals for simultaneously closing said circuits, and means for reciprocating said pin so as to move said contact element into and out of contact with said terminals.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of electric circuits, of a selector mechanism comprising a carriage, a pair of stationary terminals in said circuits, 2. pair of axially movable pins on said carriage, a contact element on one of said pins adapted to simultaneously contact with both of said terminals for closing said circuits, a second contact element on the other of said pins adapted to contact with one of said terminals for closing one of said circuits, and means for reciprocating said pins to shift said contact elements into and out of contact with said terminals.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of electric circuits, of aselector mechanism comprising a carriage, a plurality of stationary terminals in said circuits, a air of axially movable pins on said carnage, a contact element on one of said pins adapted to.

simultaneously contact with two of said terminalsfor closing twoof said'circuits, a second contact element on the other of said pins adapted to contact with one of said two terminals-and with a third terminal for closing one of said two circuits and a third circuit, and means for reciprocating said carriage and pins to shift said contact elements into and out of contact with said terminals. i

15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of electric circuits, of a selector mechanism comprising a carriage, a pair of stationary terminals in said circults, a pair of axially movable pins on said carriage, a contact element on one of said pins adapted to simultaneously con-- tact with both of said terminals for closing said circuits, means for securing said one pin against turning relative to said carriage and terminals, a second contact ele ment on the other of said pins adapted to contact with one of said terminals for closing one of said circuits, and meansfor reciprocating said pins to shift said contact elements into and out of contact with said terminals.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of electric circuits, of a selector mechanism comprising a stationary supporting frame, a vertically reciprocatin carriage on said frame, a battery of axia ly'movable pins arranged substantially vertically in said carriage, a substantially horizontally disposed terminal in one of said circuits and arranged onsaid frame at one side of said pins, a plurality of other terminals in the other of. said 'circuits and arranged on said frame on the opposite side of said ins, contact elements on all of said pinsa apted to contact with said one terminal for closing said one circuit, certain ofsaid contact elements being fulcrumed on said support, a carriage supported on one end of said lever, a selector pin on said carriage, a cam coacting with the other end of said bell crank lever and adapted to oscillate said lever to reciprocate said carriage, and means for driving said cam. S Y.

Signed at Chicago this 27th day of May, 1924.

PAUL'A. GOLLNICK. JOHN 'J. TOOLAN, 

